This weekend marked the 92nd edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, considered the most intense car race, with 62 cars starting this Saturday, June 15, 2024.
It was former French footballer Zinedine Zidane who kicked off the race on the legendary Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, for the 62 cars. The 24 Hours of Le Mans features 62 competitors on the starting grid, across different categories. For the premier Hypercar category, there are 23 cars where nine manufacturers are battling for the top spot.
This year, Cannes native Norman Nato is performing in the hypercar category for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Already known in the event’s second category, the LMP1, this year he embarks on a hypercar in the private Porsche number 12 from Hertz Team Jota. Unfortunately for the team, the Porsche number 12 could not compete for pole position. In fact, even before the start of qualifying, the car went off during free practice.
A race full of emotion
Within just one hour into the race, rain made its appearance on the Le Mans circuit. Norman Nato entered the Porsche No. 12 on the 75th lap. Positioned in 8th place, Cannes native Norman Nato completed a stint of over four hours of racing, contending with IndyCar driver Alex Palou in the Cadillac Racing. He completed his first stint at midnight, handing over to driver Will Stevens.
We find him again early morning, 10 hours before the finish, having managed to maintain their position overnight and even contending with the leaders by climbing to 4th place. Only the Porsche No. 12 was called back to the pits, and Norman Nato then found himself exiting in 9th place. From 10 a.m., the second stint for the Cannes driver ended, and he handed over to Will Stevens.
In the final hours of the race, after climbing back to 8th place, Norman Nato returned to the Porsche No. 12. Cannes native Nato then had the privilege of finishing the race, which culminated in the victory of the Ferrari number 50, followed by the Toyota number 7, and for the third step of the podium, Ferrari number 51. After fighting to chase the 7th position against Alex Palou, Norman Nato unfortunately finished in 8th position and concluded the last stint of the Porsche No. 12 Hertz Team Jota.
